In 2020, Pitts introduced several pigeons from this champion formation at auction for the first time, and the references keep pouring in! Top lines such as Benny Steveninck and Anthony Maes represent this colony. And the references are becoming increasingly numerous and better: for instance, the mother of the 1st National Poitiers (Vivonne) at Danny & Tom Thierens was purchased during the Pitts auction of 2022.
Just across the border with Belgium, in the Dutch province of Zeeland, stand the beautiful lofts of this friendly father-mother-son combination Alfons, Annie, and son Danny van Daalen. They experience pigeon racing with great passion and dedication. When we say that the breeding loft is based on proven world-class breeds like Benny Steveninck and Anthony Maes, there is little doubt that the quality at van Daalen is exceptionally high!
With the arrival of 10 direct pigeons from Anthony Maes, they hope that they will shine even more in the long-distance races, truly magnificent pigeons that are very well built; we will certainly hear more about them! The first results are promising, and hopefully, this will continue! In this auction, there are also many pigeons from these direct Anthony Maes pigeons!
In 2024, the lofts of Anthony Maes were again visited to strengthen the breeding colony. A few months ago, a joint breeding effort was made with the PIPA elite center, resulting in chicks from "Porsche III" (1st National ace pigeon KBDB long distance yearlings 2023) and "Porsche II" (2nd YL Belgium 4 long distance races PIPA ranking 2022), both paired with "Fleur" (Daughter of Crack from Anthony Maes and grandmother of 1st National Poitiers (Vivonne) against 10,575 pigeons and fastest of 19,590 pigeons).
In the 21-917 and 21-910, both direct from Anthony Maes, they have a new breeding pair whose offspring perform excellently in tough races! And from this pair, Fons and Danny are also receiving many references, from which here now 4 beautiful youngsters are included in the auction!
System
The old pigeons are raced traditionally and on double widowhood with the cocks and hens. The best young hens are also continued as yearling hens. About 40 racing pigeons are needed to complete the program flights, and 16 pairs of breeders raise about 70 youngsters for this purpose. The young pigeons are well trained and then further raced on the flights.
In terms of supplements, the Rohnfried range is preferred, and veterinarian Patrick Derycke provides medical support. “Unfortunately, we have a huge problem with birds of prey here,” says Danny. “They come to hunt our pigeons weekly, trying to catch them even during the racing season, which makes training and participating in competitions very difficult... It sometimes makes you quite despondent, unfortunately.”
Results
Anyone who competes weekly against this driven combination knows full well that they do not let themselves be fooled. No nonsense, but clear language with hard evidence on paper! Here is a selection of results from recent years, followed by an overview of the breeding and racing pigeons that form the basis of these top performances in 2024:
- Pont Saint Maxence against 148 pigeons: 1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 14th, etc. (12 out of 20)
- Chateauroux against 159 pigeons: 2nd, 6th, 11th, 15th, etc. (7 out of 10)
- Gien against 181 pigeons: 1st, 7th, 13th, 16th, etc. (6 out of 10)
- Fontenay against 246 pigeons: 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, etc. (14 out of 25)
- Chateaudun against 175 pigeons: 1st, 7th, 8th, 10th, 14th, etc. (7 out of 20)
- Niergnies against 190 pigeons: 3rd, 10th, 12th, etc. (8 out of 19)
- Niergnies against 382 pigeons: 3rd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 13th, 14th, etc. (24 out of 51)
- Roye against 365 pigeons: 2nd, 4th, 5th, etc. (20 out of 50)
- Pont Saint Maxence against 322 pigeons: 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, etc. (21 out of 50)
Old speed:
- 1st Unspecified champion – 5th Specified champion – 2nd, 4th ace pigeon
- Old middle distance:
- 2nd Unspecified champion – 4th Specified champion – 1st, 3rd, 4th ace pigeon
- Young middle distance:
- 1st Unspecified champion – 1st Specified champion
- Natour
- 4th Unspecified champion – 5th Specified champion – 2nd ace pigeon
Best breeding pairs
Pigeons have been purchased from the best lines at the top of Belgium, and the best breeding pairs currently are:
“Goldrush x 363” from this pair comes “Olympic Hattrick,” further parents and grandparents of many 1st prize winners.
“Porsche 862 x Fleur” (daughter of Crack) – grandparents of 1st National Poitiers and several offspring have already won 1st in large competitions.
What seems to become a new breeding pair is Danny 917 (Anthony Maes) x Annie 910 (Anthony Maes) – the 2 best yearlings came from this pair, and also the best young pigeon of 2024 came from this pair! Many references have already come from this pair!
Many references have also been received from “Jaro” (son of Bonten Provinciaal from Anthony Maes), who when paired with different hens, produces good offspring.
Best results in NPO races
- 1st NPO Pithiviers against 5465 pigeons
- 2nd NPO Roye against 2798 pigeons
- 4th NPO Meaux against 4885 pigeons
- 4th NPO Lorris against 1965 pigeons
- 4th NPO Pontoise against 2657 pigeons
- 5th NPO Orleans against 5689 pigeons
- 5th NPO Vierzon against 3246 pigeons
- 5th NPO Meaux against 4885 pigeons
- 6th NPO Chateaudun against 2273 pigeons
- 6th NPO Bourges against 4539 pigeons
- 6th NPO La Ferte Jouarre against 13641 pigeons
- 7th NPO Orleans against 5431 pigeons
“Olympic Hattrick”
- 1st Quiévrain against 1317 pigeons
- 1st Roye against 1036 pigeons – 1st against 6369 pigeons
- 3rd Peronne against 1324 pigeons – 3rd against 7556 pigeons (after loftmate)
- 3rd Pont Saint Maxence against 1087 pigeons – 3rd against 5568 pigeons (after loftmate)
- 4th Arras against 687 pigeons
- 2nd Olympic Pigeon NL category F
- 3rd International Olympic Pigeon category F – Poznan
- 3rd acebird short distance NL (PIPA)
References
Fons and Danny are extremely proud that others also race successfully with their pigeons and are happy that enthusiasts share this, thus building friendships in the pigeon sport.
*Danny and Tom Thierens won the 1st National Poitiers (Vivonne) against 10,575 pigeons, also the fastest of the entire competition against 19,590 pigeons! The mother was purchased at the Pitts auction in 2022. She came from grandchild Porsche 911 (via Benny Steveninck) x daughter Crack (Anthony Maes). A brother/sister of the mother of 1st National Poitiers (Vivonne) is also included in this auction!
*Jean-Philipe van Acker won 2nd NPO Chateauroux against 3337 pigeons (50% A. van Daalen & son) from the line of Anthony Maes. He also stated that he obtained several good pigeons through us.
*Benny Steveninck acquired a hen from “Olympic Hattrick,” which also provides good results as a breeder, a hen that won 1st three times (Lorris, Soissons, and Momignies) and 2nd at Sermaises in the club at Mathues-Steveninck; she has been moved to the breeding loft of Fons and Danny, and offspring from her are also in this auction!
* Jo Claeskens bought a cock from the line of Olympic Hattrick, and he is the father of the 391/22, which won (without duplications): 1st Sermaises against 1457 pigeons, 1st Sermaises against 967 pigeons, 1st Lorris against 76 pigeons, 2nd Sermaises against 432 pigeons, 2nd Sermaises against 147 pigeons, 4th Sermaises against 752 pigeons. He has also achieved great results with pigeons from the line of Anthony Maes, the 212/24 won: 1st Sermaises against 274 pigeons, 3rd Sermaises against 1079 pigeons, 6th Noyon against 2684 pigeons, 18th Noyon against 3417 pigeons, 54th Noyon against 4451 pigeons, and 54th Noyon against 5966 pigeons. Her nest sister won on 2 heavier flights 1st Bourges against 1238 pigeons (also the fastest old, yearling, and young pigeon in West Brabant against over 2000 pigeons), 1st Fay au Loges against 225 pigeons, 15th Sermaises against 385 pigeons, and 29th Sermaises against 386 pigeons.
* Comb. op de Beeck-Baetens also bought a cock via the auction on Pitts.be, and a son of this cock won among others the 5th National in the zone on Issoudun against 2286 pigeons.
* Fokke Jongsma from Drachterscompagnie bred a pigeon from a granddaughter of Olympic Hattrick that flew 1st from Klarenbeek against 1390 pigeons. Furthermore, many top 10 prizes.
*Even at E.F. de Wever from Schoondijke our pigeons are performing excellently; an old cock won in the association: 1st Roye, 1st Issoudun, 4th Niergnies, 6th La Soutteraine, and 8th Issoudun, thereby becoming the 1st general ace pigeon of the association. He also bred a pair of youngsters from a hen of ours (line Benny Steveninck), and these youngsters (941 and 942) together won: 1st Quiverain against 460 pigeons, 1st Niergnies against 460 pigeons, 1st Roye against 876 pigeons, 1st Niergnies against 555 pigeons, and 2nd Niergnies against 460 pigeons (no duplications)!
*Also, our club president Eddy van Acker (well-known from the pigeon garden in Heikant) reported that the ace pigeon of middle distance young comes from a cock of ours (line Olympic Hattrick), this cock has already provided several good pigeons there.